Last year I introduced our Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room series, posts dedicated to Christmas reflections. Each Monday in December, through Christmas, we looked at different ways that you can make room for Jesus at Christmas. Today’s guest post was written by Kathy R. Bruce, my beloved Mom. Please visit her blog, The Looking Glass.

One year, a friend of mine wanted me to add more commitments to my already hectic schedule at Christmas. I told her that I could not squeeze anything else on my plate, to which she replied, “You need a bigger plate!”

Are others’ expectations of and for you crowding out the true meaning of Christmas? Are you so busy that you are forgetting what Christmas is all about? Is busyness stealing your joy? How can you prepare your heart to receive the Christ for Christmas?

I love Christmas. It’s one of my favorite times of year. Approximately a month before the big day, I begin to prepare my house by making room for all my treasured Christmas items. I pack up my photos, everyday dishes, mantel clock, and loads of trinkets to make room for my decorations, trees, gifts and cards. All of these things are carefully put in the perfect places where they can be beautifully displayed. I want everyone who visits our home to enjoy them as much as I do.

In all the preparations making room for my things, I can easily forget to make room for the main reason for the season. Yes, Christmas is for giving, loving, fellowship and glad tidings. But the main reason for this season is to celebrate the coming of The Lord Jesus Christ.

My desire is to celebrate His great love for me. To worship the One who put skin on and came to earth (via a humble birth) just to save me. That’s worth celebrating! So this and every Christmas going forward, I want to be intentional about preparing my heart for Christmas. I want to receive ALL He has for me. I want to be intentional about recognizing that He is The Lord of Lords and The King of Kings. No more stumbling over the manger on my way to embracing the good but not the best.

If you want to be intentional too, here are some ways to prepare your heart for the Christ of Christmas:

1. Tell God how much you desire to focus on Him.

2. Confess that you can become easily distracted and caught up in the ‘hoopla’ of the holidays.

3. Ask Him to speak to your heart and show you what making room for Him would look like in your life.

4. Listen to His voice. Is He asking you to stop the frenetic pace of life so that you can spend time with Him? Is He desiring that you spend your days in His Word rather than devouring latest Christmas magazines searching for ways to make your Christmas festive and meaningful?

5. Intentionally set time aside to be with the One whose birth you’re celebrating. How about the first moments of your day? Offer the day and its schedule to Him.

6. Go and offer the Hope of the World (and the real reason for Christmas) to everyone you meet. Offer Jesus.

In all your preparations to make this the merriest Christmas ever, remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. Jesus, Simply Jesus.

Kathy R. Bruce answered the call from God to ‘come to Me’ on Monday, June 23, 1980. Her journey with God so far has been transformational, to say the least. She has seen God enlarge her borders in many leadership capacities. In 2008, Kathy earned a certificate in Leadership from the Women’s Leadership Development Institute. Kathy is married to her biggest cheerleader, her husband John. They are parents to 4 grown children and grandparents to 7 grandchildren. She blogs regularly at The Looking Glass. You can also follow her on Twitter.

Hi! I'm Kathie - Christ-follower, wife, mom, KidMin enthusiast, and Director of Children's Ministry (Birth - Grade 5) at Central Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland. I write here to share practical tips and inspiration with KidMin leaders, volunteers and parents. Thanks for stopping by! If you like what you see, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss a post!